The Accidental Archmage by Edmund Batara (read out loud books .TXT) 📕

“Don’t worry, I brought a carriage for you. We can leave after the meal. I really didn’t

want to impose on Eric and Helga anymore.”

“I may be the one imposing on you in turn, Ivar.”

“Hah! That I doubt, my friend. Your knowledge and the gadgets you gave me are more

than enough. I could host you for the rest of your life and still will not have repaid you.”

“Too much, Ivar. You’re messing with me. I do want to be able to go out and see what

I can safely see in this world. Operative word being “safely.”

“You fail to see the significance of your arrival, Havard. It is a rare occurrence for one

from Earth to make the journey to Adar and survive to see civilization. Though we may

lack the magical affinity native to those born in this world, our Earth background and

way of thinking is sought after by the gods. At the very least, we are novel additions to

this world.”

“So, we are novelties then?”

“I didn’t mean it that way. Independent of that, we bring a different mindset to their

concerns, an innovative way of resolving matters. Not to mention unreserved loyalty to

whoever we chose as our patron deity. Think about it, we find ourselves alone in this

world. No family, no familiar psychological bonds and dependencies, nothing at all,

except our clothes and whatever is in our body when we arrive.”

Ivar’s words disturbed Tyler though he kept his game face on. A way of thinking? That would be a chancy quality at best. He agreed that his knowledge may be an asset to

this world or to deities interested in it but such a resource is finite. Loyalty? To adopt

Ivar’s thinking would be to accept being a thrall, a slave, as Miss Psychotic described.

He had no doubt that such loyalty would be magically enforced. Tyler was certain he

was not willing to go that far, even to save his own neck. A novelty? A toy for immature

and capricious beings, powerful as they may be? No way, Jose.

“I’ll think about it,” commented Tyler, “you have to understand all this is too much, too

soon for me. There’s a lot of information to absorb and more to learn before I can

make any decision.”

“I understand. It may even take you a few months to decide one way or another. But

being on Adar forces one to mature a lot faster and in a different manner than one

expects. I don’t expect you to make a decision until you’ve seen and known what Adar

is and what it has to offer. For now, you can stay with me until you’ve come to a

decision. Never think that it imposes a burden on my part. We do come from the same

world. I know what you have gone through.”

“Thanks, Ivar. I mean that. It would have been a lot more difficult without you around.”

The Gothi just replied with a dismissive gesture, indicating that no thanks was needed.

Tyler went back to his room to get his things. His clothes he crammed into the

backpack. By way of habit, he checked the back pocket of the jeans for his wallet

before he remembered losing it back at the lake. All he remembered was when he

came to, the familiar bulge in his back pocket was gone. He didn’t mind it then and

didn’t mind it now. He had accepted that the wallet and its contents counted for

nothing in this world. It’s not as if his credit cards could be used at the nearest

blacksmith or inn. His watch remained in the pack as it would attract attention.

The Gothi’s preparations for the journey to Maljen were a surprise. A horse-drawn

covered wagon waited for him. It was not what he expected. It looked like a four-

wheeled ordinary wagon converted to be half a carriage and half a cargo platform. Sort

of a pickup truck, only with two horses. Built-in steps on the side assisted entrance to

the carriage part which looked to be enough for three persons at the most. The covered

carriage part was made of wood. The cart driver had his own place in front of the

passengers.

Ominously, Tyler also saw five armed and armored mounted guards waiting for them.

Two others were on the cargo platform of the carriage. Seeing the Gothi in the

carriage, he joined him. The bench-like seat and its back rest were covered in fur.

Leather handholds hung from the top of the compartment.

“Expecting trouble?” asked Tyler, looking at the armed guards.

“No. Bandits have been reported between Maljen and the next town but I don’t expect

them to be around. We’re just short of two rast from Maljen. I don’t think they would

be so bold. But better safe than sorry. By the way, a rast is around five and a half earth

miles. Have to keep thinking of measurements in Skaney terms, makes life a lot easier.

I suggest you also do the same. You won’t need to do the conversion in your mind

every time.”

“Okay. Good. I would hate to be bandit prey,” said Tyler, his memory going back to the

aftermath of the bandit raid he saw soon after his arrival. But despite Ivar’s

explanation, he thought it strange that their carriage would be escorted by several

heavily armed men. The Gothi did go back to Maljen by himself yesterday afternoon.

“Don’t worry. If bandits do show up, my magical abilities would be more than enough,

even without the guards,” the Gothi reassured him.

“We do have to pace ourselves. I guess your wounds won’t take well to being jostled

around. But we’ll be there in about two hours. Meantime, rest and take in the scenery.

If you have questions, I will be happy to answer them. Your question hour I plan to do

tomorrow when you’ve recovered a bit more.”

The journey was uneventful for the first few miles, turning from the trail leading into

the hunter’s house into what looked to be the main road. The forest now surrounded

them. The way appeared to be well-traveled and the road to be reasonably maintained

as no deep potholes made itself felt.

The mounted guards have moved to some form of formation. Three on one side of the

carriage and two on